KLDR - Local News

Council Workshop Concludes with Playground Motion, Meeting Begins with Ordinances

The Grants Pass City Council concluded their workshop Monday with unanimous approval of a motion for the Parks Department to explore designs for a natural playground at Reinhart Volunteer Park.

A motion failed to increase the number of members on the Committee on Public Art from 9 to 11, and a request was made for a short executive session Wednesday to give the council updates on an HR position.

A Strategic Planning Meeting will convene January 15th and 16th, and a special meeting for the non-bargaining taskforce will meet January 20th at 11:45 a.m.

The Council will next convene Wednesday for their meeting in Council Chambers, beginning with a Public Hearing regarding an ordinance amending Development Code for Zoning Districts.

Council action will follow with an ordinance to municipal code providing clarification to better address public safety risks associated with open flames and flammable materials in parks and exclusion orders.

Appointments will be made to the Committee on Public Art and the Bikeways and Walkways Commission, followed by Public Comment and the Consent Agenda. After comments from the Mayor, Council, and Staff, the meeting will adjourn.

An Urban Renewal Agency Meeting will then convene for a resolution designating the City Manager as the Budget Officer.

Wednesday's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street.

Posted on 1/6/26 5:30AM by Alex Bauer

Tourism Advisory Committee Requesting Applications for Three Positions

Applications are being accepted for three positions on the Tourism Advisory Committee due to term expirations.

These are three-year positions. The goal of the Committee is to encourage visitors and residents to engage in community activities while enhancing the positive image of our City through marketing, promotions, and destination management.

The purpose of the Tourism Advisory Committee is to review and advise the work of the City’s Tourism Contractor. This includes reporting findings and recommendations to the City Council as needed.

One member will represent lodging properties within the City of Grants Pass, and two members will represent river guides, area attractions, realtors, restaurants, the media, marketing, and citizens-at-large.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on February 27th.

Applications will be reviewed by the committee March 3rd. Appointments will be made by the Council during their meeting March 18th.

Posted on 1/6/26 4:42AM by Alex Bauer

Council Moved to Gather Cottage Project Information, Appointed Two to Elk Island Panel

The Grants Pass City Council was unanimous in a motion to move forward with gathering more information on a proposed project for Riverside Park's Caretaker's Cottage at the start of today's workshop. Bradley Clark with Community Development presented in consideration of Requests for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) regarding the cottage. A previous community survey result showed 75% of participants wanted to save the building. Six yurts were proposed to go next to the cottage, with a Riverside Maintenance Yard Expansion. The purpose of the RFEI is to attract an investor to help with the cost. Exterior and foundation work costs would be incurred on the city. Bernie Woodard, representing Elk Island Trading in a yurt proposal for the site providing overnight lodging at the facility, had said staff haven't come to a site layout configuration that would accommodate the needs of both Elk Island and the Parks Division. He has stated lodging only in the cottage without the yurts isn't financially feasible. Council direction was needed on a potential Municipal Code to allow overnight camping in a public park.

Posted on 1/5/26 6:21PM by Alex Bauer

Man with Two GPPD Warrants Arrested for Meth, Burglary, Mischief Charges

Grants Pass Police officers, while patrolling the Grants Pass Shopping Center, contacted two suspects sitting in a concealed area between Aaron's and Petco Saturday night.

One of the suspects refused to identify themselves and walked off west on NE D Street. Another officer recognized the suspect as Gabriel Feliciano, known from previous contacts.

He was known to have two serviceable warrants out of the police department charging him with First Degree Criminal Mischief, Second Degree Meth Possession, and Burglary in the Second Degree.

Feliciano was stopped and contacted by officers, who then took him into custody. After confirming Feliciano's identity, a consent search was conducted, revealing a glass pipe with burnt residue of a white crystallized substance in his jacket pocket.

The pipe tested presumptive positive for the presence of Methamphetamine, so a charge of Meth Possession was referred to the District Attorney's Office. Feliciano was then transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for his warrants.

Posted on 1/5/26 11:32AM by Alex Bauer

Board of Commissioners Workshop Includes Chair and Vice Chair Appointment Order

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners Tuesday workshop will begin with an order in the matter of Appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners for 2026, per the county charter. Following the order, the board will cover business from the Clerk, Sheriff, Information Technology, Community Justice, Forestry, Public Health, Transit, Airports and Human Resources Departments. After board business concerning Josephine County Airports Advisory Board Bylaws and pending other matters, the workshop will adjourn. Tuesday's County Administration Workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room. Those wishing to attend in person must abide by the clear bag policy. The meeting will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

Posted on 1/5/26 11:02AM by Alex Bauer

Uncooperative Suspect with Dogs Arrested by GP Police at South Y

Grants Pass Police contacted a suspect with two dogs at the South Y early Sunday morning.

At 2:28 a.m., the suspect, Carrie McCoin, was found to have an active warrant out for her arrest from the Medford Police Department charging her with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.

McCoin was detained by officers, and she initially agreed to give her two dogs and belongings she had with her to an acquaintance to watch until she was released. While enroute to the Josephine County Jail, McCoin became highly uncooperative and began making threats.

She claimed she never gave officers permission to give her dogs to the acquaintance. Officers subsequently lodged McCoin in jail for her Out of County Hold Warrant.

Posted on 1/5/26 10:51AM by Alex Bauer

OSP Responded to Single Vehicle Crash, Arrested Suspect on Warrant

Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 199 at milepost 8 Friday evening.

Upon arrival at the scene, troopers contacted the driver, identified as Colin Shackelford. He only had minor injuries, and it was found that he failed to maintain his lane when leaving the roadway, striking a guardrail and going down the embankment.

Shackelford had a warrant out for his arrest, so he was arrested by troopers. His vehicle was towed from the scene, and he received further medical evaluation at Three Rivers Medical Center.

Posted on 1/5/26 10:38AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Responded to Trespassing Complaint, Arrested Suspect

Grants Pass Police were notified of a trespassing complaint in the 200 block of Redwood Highway Saturday afternoon.

The report came in to dispatch at 4:21 p.m. that a man was pounding on the caller's front door, and had been for about 10 minutes. The man proceeded to sit in a chair near the front door of the apartment.

The caller reported the man had a bike with him, but wasn't sure if there were any weapons or if the man was intoxicated.

Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, identified as Robert Smith. He was told to leave multiple times, but he proceeded to ramble and drink the fluid out of a cigarette container on the front porch.

Smith was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, as well as a parole violation detainer. He was trespassed from the location, then transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 1/5/26 5:42AM by Alex Bauer

Emergency Crews Responded to Single-Vehicle Accident Saturday

A single-vehicle accident occurred Saturday afternoon at Caves Highway and Laurel Road in Cave Junction.

The Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR-Josephine County, and Oregon State Police responded to the scene around 12:52 p.m.

One individual was evaluated and determined to have sustained no injuries.
A portion of the building was also struck in the accident.

The Oregon State Police will be conducting the investigation and arranging for the vehicle's removal.

Posted on 1/5/26 5:30AM by Alex Bauer

23.16% Voter Turnout So Far Shows Recall Election Ballot Return Report

The Ballot Return report for the Recall Election against Commissioner Chris Barnett shows a voter turnout of 23.16% so far.

The latest report, provided by County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, shows a grand total of 16,311 ballots received. Of those, 15,641 ballots have been verified. There is a total of 70,439 eligible voters in Josephine County.

According to a notice on the county website, the schedule for January 6, 2026 Recall Election reporting begins that same Tuesday after 8 p.m., followed by further results January 14th and 23rd posted by 5 p.m., pending schedule changes dependent on receipt of ballots.

Certified Results will be posted no later than February 2nd, but no sooner than January 28th posted by 5 p.m.

Posted on 1/5/26 5:29AM by Alex Bauer

Tree Inventory to Be Conducted In Grants Pass

PlanIT Geo's Certified Arborists will be conducting a tree inventory in Grants Pass, starting January 6.

Tree inventories are an important tool for local urban forest managers, as they provide a big-picture view of the urban forest and can be used to identify potential threats to the trees in the city. They also help locate potential gaps in canopy coverage, prioritize maintenance efforts, and guide future policy.

In this tree inventory, PlanIT Geo’s ISA Certified Arborists will be mapping and evaluating all of the trees and planting sites within the city rights-of-way and public parks. Trees in these locations will be identified and assessed for health, condition, location information, and maintenance needs.

Once collected, tree and planting site data attributes and locations provide urban forest managers the power to proactively manage their tree population, reduce potential liabilities, and prepare for potential threats to the state’s urban forest.

The Arborists will be easily identifiable wearing high visibility safety vests, carrying tablets, and driving a vehicle marked with magnets displaying the PlanIT Geo company logo.

Posted on 1/5/26 4:30AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Office Arrested Vandalism Suspect, Trespassed from Property Save for His RV

A man living in the 7000 block of Monument Drive was going into buildings on the property and taking things, according to a witness's report to 911.

The caller told dispatch he didn't want to pursue theft charges, and said he had restraining order paperwork he planned on turning in. After further conversation with dispatch, he was interested in pursuing charges so long as the suspect wasn't legally allowed back on the property following arrest.

This was the fifth call in three days about the suspect, who also lives on the property. The man proceeded to the caller's front porch and threw items around. In doing so, several small solar snowman lights valued at $10 were damaged.

Deputies arrived at the scene and contacted the suspect, James Atto, who admitted to damaging the items and knew it was wrong. He claimed he did it to get the cops to show up because the caller allegedly had dead bodies in his freezer.

Atto also admitted to taking a heater, but claimed the caller let him borrow it. He allowed deputies to retrieve the heater from his RV and return it, then he was taken into custody. The caller requested Atto be trespassed from the property, save for his RV.

Atto was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Mischief. A charge of Second Degree Theft was forwarded to the District Attorney's Office.

Posted on 1/2/26 12:54PM by Alex Bauer